Automatic feeding and weighing machine



l June 8, 1937. s. G. MURRAY AUTOMATIC FEEDING AND WEIGHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 195e 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 MWN QQ. NWN

Mmm--- June s, 1937. s, G, MURRAY 2,083,391

AUTOMATIC FEEDING AND WEIGHING MACHINE Fi1ed Jan. 14, 1933 5 sheets-sheet 2 Il .JZag/eyy/Wury MMMQAAS June 8, 1937. s, G, MURRAY 2,083,391

vAUTOMATIC FEEDING ANDl WEIQHING MACHINE June s, 1937. s (g, MURRAY 2,083,391

AUTOMATIC FEEDING AND WEIGHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 l I I l L June 8, 1937.

s. G. MURRAY AUTOMATIC FEEDING AND WIGHING MACHINE Filed Jan. r14, 19:56

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 8," 1937 PATENT oFFlcE.

2,083,391 AUTOMATIC resume AND wErGmNG 1- MACHINE Stanley G. Murray, Passaic, N. 'J. Application January. 14, 193s, serial No. 59,131

22 Claims.

The present invention relates to machines fofr` use in feeding and weighing loose material, such 5 as grains, feeds, coal, sand, minerals and the like while the same is fed in the form of .a stream. One of. the primary objects of the invention is to provide means for automatically regulating the stream of material to compensate for variations in the specific gravity of the material. A more particular object of the invention is to provide means forautomatcally regulating the stream of material in a machine which measures the stream into separate loads or charges l5 and check-weighs the load, in order to maintain automatically the correctness of the weight of the oads.

Another more particular object of the invention is to provide means for automatically regulating the stream of material in a machine in which the stream advances continuously and is weighed during its travel, in order to automatically maintain constant weight of the stream, ier a given unit of length thereof.

Another object oi the inventionis toprovide .means for metering or Calibrating the -amount i of material passing through the machine in a given time and for registering the total amount ofv material that has passed through the machine.

To these land other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will be hereinafter described, the features of novelty being pointedout particularly inthe claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section,

of a load measuring and check-weighing machine' embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the machine as viewed from the left in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the machine as viewed from the right in Fig.` 1;

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the scale mechanism which supports the weighing co n' 1 Figure 8 isa detail view on an enlarged scale and partly in section, of the driving clutch be tween the regulating motor and the regulating shaft; 4

Figure 9 is a diagram showing the electrical connections betweenthe elements of the stream regulating means;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing gearing for driving the feed conveyor continuously;

Figure 1l is a view showing a modified form of regulating motor, showing the electrical connections vfor governingits operation.

Figure l2 is a transverse section through a portion of the machine shown in Figs. '1 to 9 inclusive, 'showing counter operating means for counting the number of cycles or measured weighings; and

Figure 13 is a detail view showing the operative connection between the counter operating rod and its actuating means,

Similar parts are designated by the same referencecharacters in the different figures.

The preferred embodiments of the invention,

. are shown in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter described'in detail, but it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted tc the precise constructionsshown since equivalent constructions are contemplated vand such will be included within the scope of the claims.

Figures 1 to 9 inclusive show vention applied Vto a machine for measuring a stream of material into loads` and check-weigh ing such loads, as fully shown and described in my prior copending application Serial No. 3,848 led January 28, 1935, to which reference is made for a detailed understanding of such ma.-

chine. s

For the purposes` of the present invention, such machine may be described as comprising a main frame composedof a pair of channel irons III which serve to support the machine when 4in stalled, the ends .of these channel irons resting for example upon a pair of cross beams Il. the

' main frame having a sub-frame ilwhich is suspended from the channel irons l0 and serves to support certain parts of the machine, asv will hereinafter appear.

Thelmaterial in loose form is supplied to the machine from a bin per Il, which comprises apair of vertical side the present in- I3'or the like to a feed hopplates I5 which are supported -irom the channel irons I0, aninclinedfront plate I6 and a rear plate I1. The now of material from the feed hopper is governed or controlled by a feed gate il which extends across the width of the feed hop- Der and is mounted on and fixed to a shaft I9 which is journalled at its ends in the side plates I5. This feed gate is provided with a peripheral face 20 the upper portion of which is concentric with the axis of the shaft I9 so that it will maintain a relatively close fit against the lower edge of the front wall I6 of the feed hopper when the gate is adjusted into different positions, and the lower portion of the face 20 of the feed gate is preferably curved on a shorter radius than the concentric portion thereof, as indicated at 2I, to present a smooth surface to the material passing beneath it as the material is withdrawn from the feed hopper by the feed conveyor 22; 'I'he mounting of the feed gate I8 at the outlet beneath the lower edge I6 of the feed hopper enables this gate to regulate or govern the amount of material discharged from the feed hopper by adjustment of the gate into different vertical positions about the axis of the shaft I9,

lit determining the depth of the stream of material on theI feed conveyor 22. The-shaft I9 to which the feed gate is fixed is provided at one end with a'bent arm or crank 23 to which an internally threaded nut 24 is connected pivotally at 25, and a screw shaft 26 is journalled to rotate in a. bearing 21 pivotally suspended at 28 to a relatively xed cross member 29 suitably the channel irons I 0. One end of the screw shaft is threaded into the nut 24 and its other end is provided with a hand wheel 36 by means of which it may be rotated manually and thereby caused to act through the nut 24 and crank arm 2 3 to swingthe feed gate into different-adjusted positions about the axis of the shaft I9 as a center.

The feed conveyor 22, which is of the endless flexible belt type, is preferably carried on endless chains 3I connected by cross members, and these chains pass around sprocket wheels 32 and 33 xed on shafts 34 and 35, these shafts being mounted in suitable bearings supported from the channel iron members III. The feed conveyor '22 is thusmounted to travel horizontally or substantially so in the machine and its upper stretch is located immediately below the feed hopper I4 so that the material in the feed hopper will rest on the upper stretch of the feed conveyor and will be withdrawn from the feed hopper beneath the edge of the hopper wall I6 and feed gate I8 by the travel of the feed conveyor 22 toward the right in Figure 1, the material thus withdrawn from the feed hopper traveling therewith. 'I'he vertical adjustments of the feed gate I8 vary its height above the upper stretch of the feed conveyor 22 and thereby vary the depth of the stream of material withdrawn by the feed conveyor froml the feed hopper.

A weigh conveyor 46 is mounted beneath the feed conveyor to receive material therefrom, the weighA conveyor being of the endless flexible belt type carried on'chains 4I and cross members connecting them, these chains passing around sprocket wheels 42 and 43 ixedon shafts 44 and 45. I'he weigh conveyorv 40 is scale supported from the main frame of the machine by weighing mechanism comprising a pair of beams 46 and 41, the beam 46 having a short arm 48 at one side of the machine and a long arm 49 rigidly connected. thereto and located at the opposite side of the machine, and the beam 41 having a short arm 56 at one side of the machine and a longer arm 5I rigidly connected thereto and located at the opposite side of the machine adjacent to the beam arm 49. T he shafts 44 and supported from weigh conveyor, so that the 45 which carry the weigh conveyor 46 aremounted in suitable bearings in a frame 52. T'his frame is suspended at one end from the arms 48 and 49 of the weigh beam 46 by clevises 5I and 54, and the other endof the frame 52 is suspended by clevises 55 and 56 from the arms 50 and 5I of the weigh beam 41. The arm 5I of the weigh beam 41 is connected to the long arm 49 of the weigh beam 46 by a link 51 so that the beams 46 and 41 will support the frame 52 and the weigh conveyor 40 thereon for vertical movements equidistantly at both ends while the weigh conveyor remains horizontal or substantially so. Clevises 58 and 59 suspend the weigh beams 46 and 41 from the channel iron members I8. The extremity or free end of the arm 6I of the weigh beam 41 is connected by a link 46II to the short arm of a scale beam 6I, the latter being pivotally suspended by its knife edges 62 from a relatively xed bracket 63 supported on th'e cross member 29, and the long arm 64 of the scale beam has. a sliding weight 65 mounted thereon, this arm of the scale beam being provided with gradations Ato represent weights to suit lthe size and capacity of the machine and to indicate the corresponding positions to be occupied by the weight 65. It will be understood that when the weigh conveyor 40 is empty or does not contain a full load of material, the long arm 64 of the scale beam will occupy its lowered position, that when the weigh conveyor contains a load of material equal to the weight for which the sliding weight 65 is set, the long arm 64 of the scale beam will come to a poise o'r mid-position, and that when the weigh conveyor contains a load of material in excess of that for which the weight 65 is set, the long arm 64 of the scale beam will occupy an up Der or raised position.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive, the feed conveyor 422 is driven or advanced intermittently through a definite distance to measure loads of material -of predetermined volume and to discharge such loads onto the weigh conveyor 49, and the weigh conveyoris driven continuously and it weighs the loads individually while advancing them to the discharge point at which -may be located a delivery chute 66. The driving means for so operating the feed and'weigh conveyors, as shown in the present instance, comprises a main drive shaft 10 journalled in bearings provided in side members 1I supported on the channel iron members I6, this shaftl being driven continuously by a motor or from a line shaft through a sprocket chain 12 and a cooperating sprocket wheel 1I fixed on the shaft 10. A sprocket wheel 14 is xed on the shaftv 1l and isconnected by a chain 15 to a driving sprocket wheel 16 fixed on the shaft 44 for the latter will be driven continuously from the shaft 16 and its upper stretch will move toward the leftin Fig. 1. A drag link or chain 16* pivotally connects the frame 52 of the weigh conveyor to the sub-frame I2, this drag link orchain extending horizontally or in parallelism with the ing chain 15 so that the frame 52 by which the Weighconveyor is scale supported will not be displaced by the pull of the driving chain and the vertical weighing movements of the weigh conveyor may take place without interference.

'Ihe continuously driven main shaft 16 is connected to a counter-shaft 80 which is journalled in suitable bearings in the side members 1I by an intermittent gear m which causes pull of the drivthe counter-shaft 80 to rotate intermittently and to a definite extent at each rotation. The countershaft 80 islconnected to the feed conveyor 22 and serves to advance it intermittently a predetermined or definite distance at each operation. As shown inthe present instance, the shaft 35, which drives the feed conveyor 22 has sprocket wheels 8| Aand 82 of different diameters fixed thereon and the counter-shaft has a pair of sprocket wheels 83 and 84 of different diameters thereon and jaw clutches 85 and 86 controlled by a clutch shifting fork 81 and lev'er 88 serve to operatively connect one or the other of the sprocket wheels 83 and 84 to the counter-shaft 80 so as to be driven thereby, the sprocket wheels- 83 and 84 being connected to the sprocket wheels 8| and 82 on the shaft 35 by chains 88 and 80, so that the feed conveyor 22 will be. advanced intermittently in conformity with intermittent rotations of the countershaft 80 and through dif- -ferent predetermined distances in order to adaptthe machine to the measuring and weighing of loads of different weights, as shown and described in detail in my prior co-pending application hereinbefore referred to.

Such means for advancing the feed conveyor through different predetermined distances is best shown in Figure 12 wherein the shaft 80 on the ends of which the sprocket wheels 83 and 8l of different diameters -are mounted'loosely, is hol- 'low and contains a rod 250 which is reciprocable therein. jaw clutch members 25| and 252 fixed thereon, and jaw clutch members 253 and 254 are splined on the shaft 80, they being connected to the respective ends of the rod 250 by keys 255 and 256 which are fixed to the respective jaw clutch members 253 and 254 by screws 251 and 258 and extend slidingly through slots 258 in the ends of the 'shaft 80 and seat in recesses 28.0* and 26| in the respective ends ofthe rod 80. The jaw clutch members consequently will be shifted simultaneously in one direction by the rod 250 to engage the clutch members-25| and 253 and thereby-establish a driving connection between the smaller sprocket wheel 83 and the shaft 80 and simultaneously disengage the clutch members 252 and 254 and thereby'disconnect the shaft 80 from the4 larger sprocket wheel 8l so 'that the latter may revolve freely, andwhen the rod 250 is shifted in the opposite direction, the clutch members 252 'and 254- will be engaged, thereby` establishing a driving connection for the larger sprocket wheel 84 and simultaneously the smaller sprocket wheel 83 will be disconnected from the shaft 80 so that this sprocket Wheel will revolve freely on said shaft. The jaw shifting rod is ishifted by the lever 88 which is connected by a pin 260 thereon to a rotatable shaft 28| which extends longitudinally of the machine and is provided at the opposite end of the machine with a lever 262 which enables the operator to set the clutches to connect the sprocket'wheel 83 or 84 to the shaft 80, accord ing to whether-the feed conveyor isto be advanced at a lower or higherspeedor through a relativelyl shorter or longer distance at each operation thereof, and a notched segment 263 maybe provided for locking the lever 252 in'one or the other of -its operating-positions.

The intermittentdriving means between Athe- The sprocket wheels 83 and v84 havedeemed suiiicient for the purposesof the present invention to explain that. such intermittent driv' ing means comprises a segmental or interrupted gear 85 which is keyed or otherwise fixed on the shaft 10 so as to revolve in unison therewith, a cooperating gear' 86 keyed or otherwise fixed on the intermittently rotatable counter-shaft 80, a disk 81 fixed to one side of the gear 85 as by bolts 88 so that this diskis spaced laterally from said gear, and an arm 89 which is xed to the gear 88 or to the shaft 80 so as to rotate therewith, this arm carrying a pair of rollers |00 arranged to ride on the periphery of the disk 81, a tooth or finger |0| being fixed to the gear 85 and arm 88 to rotate therewith, this nger being located in a plane to operate in the space formed between the gear 85 and disk 81. The portion of the disk 81 opposite to the untoothed portion of the gear 85 is formed with a cam surface |02 on its periphery which is concentric with the shaft 10,

and the rollers |0| are adapted to ride on this cam portion during a part of each revolution of the shaft 10, this cam portion |02 and the cooperating rollers |00 then locking the shaft 80 against rotation while the feed conveyor 22 is at rest. During each'revolution of the main shaft 10, the bolt 88 adjacent to'the leading end of the segmental gear 85 willr engage the tooth |0| and thereby initiate rotation of the shaft 80, immediately following which the gear 85 will mesh with the gear 86 and the meshing of these gears will cause rotation of the shaft 80 until the gear 85 passes out of mesh with the gear 86, whereupon the rollers |00 will come into engagement with the concentric cam portion |02 of the disk 81 and the shaft 80 will be held against rotation until it is ag'ain rotated by the following revolution ofthe main shaft 10. The feed conveyor rial of definite volumefrom the feed hopper and thus measuring a load of material volumetrically during each advance of the feed conveyor, the loads of material thus measured by the feed conveyor being discharged therefrom onto the weigh conveyor 40,` and the weigh conveyor checkweighs the loads individually as they are delivered thereto by the feed conveyor, through the operation of the weighing mechanism which supports the weigh conveyor;

When no load or a short loadl is' contained on the weigh conveyor, the weighted long arm 84 of the scale beam y"will be in lowered position; when the weigh conveyor contains a full or complete load, the arm 84 of the scale beam rises under its influence and if the load on the weigh conveyor `is correct, the scale beam balances or comes to a poise. ,When theload on the weigh conveyor is too heavy or is in excess of the predetermined welght desired or for which the weight 65 is adjusted, the long arm 84 of the scale beam swings upwardly above its balanced,

. The machine as thus far described is con structed and operates as set forth in my prior co-pending application hereinbefore referred to,

but in the machine according to that application, -manu'al adjustment of the feed gate by an4 attendant was required to maintain the measured loads a't 'the correct or desired weight. The

. springs I 9 which present invention provides means for automatically regulating the stream of material supplied by the feed conveyor whereby correct weight of the loads will be maintained automatically or without requiring the attention of an attendant.

According to the present invention, means is provided for adjusting the feed gate I8 automatically in response vto the position occupied by the scale beam. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, a reversible electric motor is provided which is mounted on a relatively fixed part of the main frame of the machine, this motor having a worm or other suitable reduction gearing connected to its shaft, the reduction gearing having a sprocket wheel ||2 fixed thereon and connected by a chain ||3 to a sprocket wheel I|4 whichis connected to the screw shaft 26 which adjusts the feed vgate I8. The sprocket erably connected to the shaft 26 ,by a slip clutch which comprises a collar ||5 26 as by a set screw ||6 and having a suitable number of balls mounted loosely in bores |-|8 formed in said collar, said bores containing bear against the balls and tend to force them laterally against the sprocket is mounted rotatably on a hub which extends from the collar ||5. The sprocket wheel ||4 has a facel adjacent to the collar which is provided with an annular row of recesses or depressions |2| into which the balls I Il are forced yieldlngly by the springs ||3. A collar |22 fixed on the hub |20, as by a set screw |23, serves to hold the sprocket wheel ||4 in cooperative relation with the collar4 ||6 and to sustain the thrust ofthe springs IIS. 'I'he slip clutch thus provided for connecting the electric motor ||0 to the feed gate adjusting screw shaft 26 will transmit motion from the motor to the screw shaft to eifect the adjustments of the feed gate and it will also enable the screw shaft 26 to be adjusted quickly by the hand wheel 30l when relatively great manual adjustments of Athe feed gate are desired, andthis slip clutch also provides a safety drive of the screw shaft 26 by the electric motor to preventdamage should the electric motor, from any cause, act to further open or close the feed gate when the feed gate is fully open or closed.

'I'he operation of the electric motor is governed or controlled automatically by an electric switch mechanism |30 which is responsive to the weighing movements of the scale beam. This switch1 mechanism comprises a disk or other suitable rotatable' support |3| on whicha pair of mercury switches |32 and |33 are` mounted, each of these switches being of a suitable well known construction comprising a tube having electrodes at one end and containinga body of mercury movable by endwise tilting of the tube, into and out of contact'with the electrodes. The switches 32 and 33 are mounted at reverse inclinations on the supporting disk |3| and the electrodes |34 and |35 thereof are located at relatively opposite ends, so that when the disk |3| is in an intermediate position in its rotation the bodies of mercury |32'l and |33"l in both switches will be at the ends thereof opposite to the electrodes and the circuits through both switches will be open, but when the supporting disk |3| is rotated in one or the other direction from such position, the consequent tilting of'the mercury switches will cause the bodies of mercury therein to fiow into contact with the electrodes in one or the other of the switches, according to the direction in wheel ||4 is prefxed on the shaft.

which the switches are porting disk or member 3| is fixed on a supporting shaft |36 which is suitably journalled in a stationary casing |36l on the machine, this shaft having an arm |31 which extends radially therefrom and engages a fork |38 carried by the long arm of the scale beam. In order to adjust the range of rotation of the switch, the fork |33 is mounted adjustably on the scale beam as by a clamping screw |39 which may be vengaged in one or another of. a series of holes |39l located at different points in the length of the scale beam.

One of the terminals of the -reversible electric motor 0 is connected by a conductor |40 to a source of electric current of suitable voltage, and one of the pair of electrodes |34 and |35 of the switches |32 and |33 conductor |4| to such source of electric current supply. The other of each of the pairs of electrodes |34 and |35 of the switches |32 and |33 are connected to the other terminals of the reversible electric motor ||0 by conductors |42 and |43 respectively, and these conductors |42 and |43 preferably include in circuit therewith electric lamps |44 and |45 of different colors, the lamp |44 being for example red and the lamp |45 green.

The switch mechanism as described will occupy its neutral position shown in Fig. 9, with the bodies of mercury in the switches |32 and |33 occupying the ends thereof opposite to the elec-- tilted. The switch Slip-v is each connected by a the switches |32 and is set, the scale beam 64 will rise and the fork |33 thereon will swing the arm |31 upwardly, thereby rocking the switch |32 to or beyond a horizontal position so that the body of mercury therein will flow .to the electrode end of the switch' and bridgethe electrodes |34. When the switch |32 is rocked into this position. the electric circuit for the motor I0 is closed or completed from the electric current supply conductor |4| through the electrodes |34 and conductor |42, thus causing the electric motor ||0 to run in a direction which'will rotate the screw shaft 26 in the proper direction to lower the feed gate I 8, and at the same time the electric lamp |44 will `ue illuminated. When the switch 32 is thus rocked into c1r. cuit closing position, the switch |33 will occupy its open circuit position. When the weight of the load of the material on the weigh conveyor 40 is light or is less than that for which the sliding weight 65 on the scale beam is set, the scale beam will not rise to its poise position but will occupy its lowered position, and the arm |31 connected thereby causing'the electric motor electric lamp |45 will be illuminated. When the switch |33 is rocked into the last described or and |45 may be mounted in a casing |46 attached to a suitable stationary part of the machine as shown in Fig. 2 in convenient position for visual observation by an attendant adjacent to the machine, or these indicating lamps may obviously be located at a suitable remote point.

Since, in the operation of the machine to .measure the material intermittently into loads and to check-weigh such loads, the scale beam drops to its lower position after Athe discharge of each load from the weigh belt, the switch |33 will be tilted into circuit closing 4position at such times, and unless prevented, the electric motor ||0 would be'caused to run in a direction to open the. feed gate I8 and thus increase the weight of the load supplied to the weigh belt by the feed belt, which would be undesirable, since the feed gate |8 might be properly adjusted for the feeding of loads of the desired weight and operation of the electric motor 'under such condition, by the dropping of the scale beam after the discharge of each weighed load from the weigh hopper,would disturb the adjustment of the feed gate; The present invention therefore provides means for.so controlling the electric motor IIO through vthe switchmechanism |30 as to permit operation of said motor only during the short period of time the weighing of the load is taking place, that is, during the period of time the tail end of the measured amount of material from the feed conveyor has just settled upon the weigh conveyor and immediately before the head end of the load begins to discharge from the weigh conveyor, the controlling means being thus synchronized with the weighing operations of the scale beam and constituting a synchronizer for the switch mechanism governing the feed gate adjusting motor.

Preferably and as shown inthe present instance, this synchronizer comprises a switch housing |50 which contains an electric switch |5| which is preferably of the mercury type comprising a glass or other tube containing a body of mercury |52 and having a pair of electrodes |53 at one end adapted to be bridged by the body of mercury when the switch is tilted to lower its electrode carryingend. The switch housing |50 is pivotally-mounted on a relatively fixed pivot |54 supported on a stationary part of the machine, as on one of side members 1| so that the switch housing may rock in a vertical plane, orsubstantially so, and an arm |55 rigid with the switch housing extends from one side of the pivot |54 and carries a weight |56 which acts .to tilt the switch and its housing into the position shown in Fig. 6 and to normally hold it in such position, the switch |5| then occupying its open circuit position. The switch housing is mounted below or otherwise adjacent to the continuously rotating main drive shaft 10, and meansv is provided for rocking the switch housing |50 to tilt the switch |50 into circuit closing position once for each revolution ofthe shaft 10. The means shown for this purpose in the present instance comprises a cam or arm |51 that the arm |51 projects from the shaft 10 at the proper position around its circumference, and

the switch housing |50 is provided with an arm or blade |60 which is in the path of movement engage the arm |60 and rock the switch housing |50 in opposition to the inuence of the weight |56, to tilt the switch |5l suiiiciently to cause the body of mercury |52 therein to bridge the electrodes |53 of this switch, therebycompleting or closing an electric circuit therethrough. The cam or arm |51 is set at such an angle circumferentially of the shaft 10 as to cause tilting of the switch |5| into circuit closing position at the moment the tail end of a measured load of material has just been delivered by the feed conveyor to the weigh conveyor and immediately before the head or leading end of the load on the weigh conveyor begins to discharge therefrom, the synchronizer being thus synchronized with the weighing mechanism which then functions to weigh the load of material on the weigh conveyor. The switch housing is supported in its normal inactive position and overthrow of the switch housing when rocked to tilt the switch |5I into circuit closing position is prevented by a stop |6| which may be mounted on side member 1| as by the pin or pivot |62, this stop having a vertical slot |63 of appropriate length, in which the weight carrying arm |55 operates, the flower end of the stop bearing on the stationary subframe I2 of the machine. The electrodes |53 of the switch I5| are connected in series with the conductor |40 which supplies electric current to the switch mechanism |30, by the conductors |64, the synchronizer thus controlling the switch mechanism |30 in such a manner that the circuits through both switches |32 and |33 will be open except during each moment the weighing mechanism is weighing a load on the weigh conveyor.

The operation of a measuring and check-weigh-V ing machine equipped with the automatic feed gate governing means and synchronizer as hereinbefore described and shown in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive is as followsz--The material to be measured and' weighed is fed to the feed hopper I4 by the` bin I3 and the machine is driven from the continuously revolving shaft 10. The sliding weight 65 is set in the proper position along the scale beam 6| to accord with the desired weight of the measured loads, and the screw shaft 26 is rotated manually by the hand wheel 30 to set ing each revolution of the shaft 10, the. countershaft will have a revolution imparted to it through the meshing of the gear 95 with the -gear 96, whereby the feed conveyor will be advanced through a definite distance, after which the counter-shaft 80 will be held against rotation and will be at rest, due to the engagement of the rollers |00 with the concentric cam portion |02 on the disk 91 xed to the shaft 10.A At this time, the feed conveyor will have measured a load of the material volumetrically and deposited it upon the weighing conveyor 40 which advances the load thereon continuously toward the discharge chute 66, and during the period of rest of the feed conveyor and while the entire load of material is contained on the weigh conveyor the weighing of the load .is effected through the action of the weighing mechanism which supports the weigh conveyor and the scale beam 64. The operation of the machine as thus far described is the same as in my prior co-pending application hereinbefore referred to.

- According to the present invention, the switch |6| of the synchronizer is in open circuit condition while the load of material is being deposited by the feed conveyor onto the weigh conveyor and 10 while the load of material is being discharged from the weigh conveyor, or at all times except during the moment the entire load of material is on the weigh conveyor and is being weighed, during which moment the cam or arm 51 on the shaft 10 tilts the switch `|5| into circuit closing position and thereupon allows this switch to return to its normal open circuit position. If the weight of the load of material on the weigh conveyor is correct or agrees with the-setting of the sliding weight 65 on the scale beam, the latter will rise until it comes to a balance or poised position, and the weigh beam, acting through the arm |31, will rotate the switches |32 and |33 into the neutral position shown in Fig. 9, the bodies of mercury in these switches then occupying the ends of these switches opposite to the electrode ends thereof, so that both of these switches will then be in open circuit position, and the closing of the circuitI through the switch |5|' and supply conductor |4| will take place without causing operation of the electric motor |||l in either direction, and hence the feed gate I8 will remain in its adjusted position. If the load of material weighed on the weigh conveyor is short or lighter than that for which the sliding weight 65 is set,

the scale beam will not rise and consequently the arm |31 of the switch mechanism will hold the switches |32 and |33 in tilted position, tilting the switch |33 so that the body of mercury therein bridges the contacts |35 of this switch, and at the moment the switch lil tilts to close the circuit through the conductors |4| and |64, which takes place during the weighing period, the circuit through the conductors |4|, electrodes |35, conductor |43, motor I0 and conductor |40 will be completed, thereby causing the motor I|0 to run in a direction to rotate the screw shaft 26 in the proper direction to raise the feed gate I8 and thereby increase the ldepth of material on the feed conveyor22. This operation increases the volume and weight of the next load of material fed by the feed conveyorto the weigh conveyor and this correcting operation may take place through several following measuring and'checkweighing operations until the feed gate has been adjusted to the proper height to effect the feeding of loads of the proper desired weight whereupon the correcting or compensating action will cease. At the same time the motor H0 is thus set into operation to correct the weight of the loack, the electric lamp |45, which may be green,-

in circuit-with the conductor |43, will be illuminated, thus givin-g a visible indication that the machine is adjusting itself to rectify the condition that the loads passing through the machine are light. If the load of materialen the weigh conveyor is heavy or in excessief that for which the weight 65 is set, the scale beam 64 will riseabove its balanced or poised position, thereby tilting the switch |32 sufficiently to cause the body of mercury therein to bridge the electrodes |34 of this switch, adat the moment the weigh` ing operation takes place, that is, while the entire load of materiai'is on the' weigh conveyor, theJwitch |6|`is tilted to complete the circuit .through the conductors |4| and |64, and since the closing of the circuit through the switch |32 completes the circuit through the conductor |40, motor ||0 and conductor |42, the motor Ill) will then be caused to run in the opposite direction than before, or in a direction to rotate the screw shaft 26 in a direction to lower the feed gate I8 and thereby diminish the depth of the material on the feed conveyor, thus correcting the weight of the next succeeding load or loads, such correcting operation taking placel during each closing of the circuit through the switch |5| until the feed gate has been adjusted to the proper height to bring the loads of material to the proper weight.

When the circuit is thus closed through the switch 32, the electric lamp |44, which may be red, is illuminated, thus giving a visible indication that the machine is adjusting itself to rectify the condition that the loads passing through the machine at that time are heavy.

By thus synchronizing the completion of the circuit for the motor I0 with the weighing operations as they take place in the machine, operation of the motor 0 to alter the adjustment of the feed gate I8 to raise the feed gate, which would otherwise take place each time a load is discharged from the weigh conveyor due to the descent of the scale beam 64 to its lower position, and which would be objectionable since it would tend to adjust the feed gateto compensate for a light or short weight load whereas the adjustment of the feed gate may be correct, is avoided. Moreover, the periodic closing of the controlling circuit for the electric motor by the synchronlzer causes the correcting or compensating adjustments for the feed gate to be made by increments, thus insuring accuracy in the compensating action.

The automatic adjusting means for the feed gate and the 'cooperative synehronizer provided by the present invention may also be applied to a machine in which the material is fed and weighed while it travels continuously and as a continuous stream through the machine. In applying the invention toa machine of that type, the machine may be constructed the same as shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive with the exception that the feed conveyor 22, instead of being advanced intermittently and the loads measured thereby formed individually and weighed separately, the feed conveyor 22 may be advanced continuously. For example, the continuously running main shaft 10 may have a continuous gear |95 fixed thereon and meshing with a continuous gear |96 fixed on the counter-shaft so that the latter would drive'the feed conveyor 22 continuously. In such an application of the invention, the material would be withdrawn from the feed conveyor |4 in a continuous stream and Adepositedl continuously on and discharged continuously from the weigh conveyor 40. The sliding weight 65 on the scale beam would be set to balance the desired weight of the length of the stream of material on the weigh conveyor, and while such length ofthe stream of material is of the desired weight,

the scale beam 64 will remain in a balanced or poised position, the switches |32 and |33 will both be in open circuit position, and although the motor circuit will be closed through the switch |6| during each revolution of the shaft 10, themotor H0 will remain idle so that'no change in the adjustment of the feed gate I8 will take place. However, should the weight of the 'length of the stream of material on the weigh conveyor become 75 e 2,083,391 lighter than desired or for which the weight 65 1.

is set, the scale beam 64 will move downwardly out of its balanced or poised position, thereby rocking the switch 33 into circuit closing position, and w'hen the switch |5| is rocked into circuit closing position, the circuit through the motor ||8 will be closed sov that the motor will run in a direction to turn thescrew shaft 26 in a direction to raise the feed gate |8 and thereby increase the depth of the stream of material being-withdrawnfrom the feed hopper by the feed conveyor, and if the weight of the length of the 'stream of material o n the weigh conveyor becomes heavier than thatV desired or for which the weight 65 on thescalebeam is set, the scale beam will rise from its balanced yor poised position, thereby rocking the switch |32 into circuit closing position, and when the switch |5| is rocked vinto circuit closing position, the circuit will be completed through the motor ||8 so as to cause said motor to run in a. direction to turn the screw shaft in ajdirection to lower the feed gate i8 and thereby diminish the depth of the stream of material being withdrawn from the feed hopper by the feed conveyor. In either instance, (the closing of the circuit through the switch |33 by descent of the scale beam from its balanced position or the-closing of the circuit through the 'switch |32 by the rising of the scale beam from its balanced or poised position); the motor circuit through one or the other of these switches, as the case may be, will be completed only periodically throughl the switch |5I, so that the 'motor ||8 will operate periodically to correct the adjustment of the gate VI8 by increments, thereby avoiding any over-adjustment of the gate in either direction, or a huntingf orwandering action which would otherwise take place if the synchronizngswitch |5| were not employed and the motor controlled by the switches |32 and |33 alone. Consequently, when the stream of material passing through the machine becomes lighter or heavierthan a predetermined desired weight for a given unit of length of the stream,l the feed gate will be adjusted in the proper direction, by increments, until the scale beam returns to a balanced or poised position corresponding with the predetermined desired weight of the stream for a given unit of length4 50 thereof accordingto the setting of the weight 65.

The automatic gate adjusting means provided by the present invention, as applied to a con- Atinuous feeding and weighing machine of the type just referred to thus serves to automatically 55 maintain the scale beam in balanced or poised position or to restore it to such position, by adjusting the feed gate and thereby regulating the depth of the stream of material fed by the feed conveyor.

The invention is not limited to the use of a reversible rotatable'electric motoras hereinbefoi'e described, since other types of gate .operating motorsmay be employed. For example.' Fig. v11

` shows a.motor or equivalent gate 'adjusting device which comprises a pair of solenoidsv |15 and |16 having cores |11 and |18 respectively reciprocable therein. lThe solenoid cores |11'a`nd |18l are operatively connected by linkslliland |88 to a pair of pawls |8| and |82, thesepawls being of bell crank form and pivoted at |83 andv |84 respectively to-a cross-head |85 which is mounted rockably or rotatably on the screw shaft 26, a pair of balanced springsv |86, |81 nonnally and yieldingly holding the cross-head |85 in its horizontal or neutral position. A -pair -of toothed wheels `|88 and |89 are xed on the screw shaft 26 and are arranged -to be engaged by the pawls |8| and |82 respectively. In using such a motor, the switches |32 and |33 of the switch mechanism |38 responsive to the weighing movements of the lscale beam 64 would have one of each pair of their electrodes |34 and |35 connected respectively to the solenoids |15 and |16 by the conductors |42a and |43 whichv may have electric lamps |44a and |45a of diiferent colors connected therein, the solenoids being connected by the conductor I4 I to the synchronizing switch controlled from the shaft 18 as hereinbefore described, the switch |5| being connected to one side of a source of electric current supply by a conductor |64, and the conducto-r |48 connecting the other side of the source of electric current supply to the other electrodes of the switches is rocked into circuit closing position by the rise of the scale beam 64 above its balanced or poised position, eachr time the switch |5| is tilted into circuit closing position by the shaft 18, the solenoid |15 will be energized thereby pulling its core or armature |11 downwardly, causing the -pawl |8| connected thereto ,to -move into engagement with its toothed wheel |88 and to then actA on said wheel to rotate the screw shaft 26 in a direction to cause lowering of the `feed gate I8; and when the scale beam occupies a position below its balanced or poised position, the switch |33 will be rocked into circuit closing position, and when the switch |5| is tilted into circuit closing position by the shaft 18, the circuit will be completed through the solenoid |16, and the core or armature |18 thereof will then be pulled downwardly, pulling the pawl |82 connected thereto into engagement with its toothed wheel |89' and then rotating such wheel and the screw shaft 26 in the direction to cause raising of the feed gate I8. In either case Iwhere the circuit is closed through the switch |32 or |33, theimpulses of current produced inthe respective solenoid through the periodic closing of the switch |5| will 'cause successiveactuations of the respective toothed wheel |88 .or |89 to effect a step by step adjustment of the feed gate until the scale beam is restored to a balanced or poised position. The springs |86 and |81 act to restore the pawls |8| and |82 to their initial positions after each actuation thereof, and fingers |98 and |8| fixed to andprojecting outwardly from the pawls |8| and |82 and working in vertical slots in brackets |88 and I9 l@ fixed to the respective solenoids serve jtov disengage` said pawls and tohold-them out'of engagement with the respective toothed wheelsv|88 and the'screw shaft 26 will normally be in condition for manual rotation by the hand wheel 38, when K relatively large adjustments of the feed gate are to be made manually, without interference from the pawls. While thescale beam occupies its balancetil or poised position during the weighing operations or at the moments the circuit is closed by the tilting f the switch |5I, both solenoids will be de-energized and the' pawls will be inactive and in disengaged relation with` their respective toothed wheels. In this embodiment of the invention, the electric lamps |44a and |45a which are of different colors, will be illuminated to indicate short weight or excess weight of the weighed loads or stream.- It is to be understood that the solenoid type motor and controlling means shown in Fig. 11 is equally applicable to a machine which intermittently measures loads and check-weighs them and to machines in which the material is fed continuously and weighed while in the form of a continuous stream.

The intermittently operating machine, as shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive is preferably provided with a counter attachment for counting the 15 number -of cycles or measured weighings. As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the counterI 220 which may be of any suitable and well known construction'having a rock-shaft 22| for actuating it, is mounted in a suitable position on the machine and its rock shaft is provided with a crank 222 to which one end of an operating rod 223 is connected pivotally. A rock shaft 224 is pivotally mounted in bearings 225 on the main frame of the machine, said shaft extending transversely ofthe machine above the high and low speed sprockets 83 and 84, and these sprockets are provided with crank pins 226 and 221 respectively. 'I'he shaft 224 has a crank arm 228 xed to one end thereof, this crank arm being operatively 80 connected to the crank pin 226 on the low speed sprocket 83 by a connecting rod 229 and the other end of the shaft 224 has a crank arm 230 xed thereon and provided with a crank pin23l. A bell-crank lever 232 is mounted loosely onthe 86 shaft 224 adjacent to the crank arm 230 thereon,

one arm of this bell-crank lever having a-,crank pin 233 which is opposite to the crank pin 23|, and the other arm of saidbell-crank lever is operatively connected to the crank pin 221 on the 40 high speed sprocket 84 by a connecting rod 235. The operating rod 223 is provided with a slot 234 by which this with one or the other of the crank pins 23| or 233, for actuation of the counter once for each advance of the feed conveyor, according to Whether the high speed or low speed sprocket is in operation.

Means is provided for metering or Calibrating the amount of material passing over the weigh conveyor 40 and for indicating the grand total thereof. This device as shown comprises a grooved roller 200 which frictionally engages and is driven by the fiange 20| on an edge of the belt forming the weigh conveyor 40, it being held in frictional driving relation therewith by 'a freely rotatable roller 202 which engages the side of the belt opposite to the roller 200. The roller 200 is connected to a gear 203 of small size which meshes with a relatively larger gear 204 ona shaft 205, and a relatively smaller gear 206 is fixed to the gear 204 and meshes with a relatively larger gear 201. 'Ihe gear 201 is connected to an indicating hand 208 which cooperates with graduations 209 on a dial 2|0, and a second hand 2|| is connected to Y reduction gearing 2|2 and cooperates with the dial graduations 209. The gearing connecting the roller 200 with the hands 208 and 2|| is of such total ratio that the indicating hands or pointers will count and indicate the number of f times a given effective length of the belt forming the weigh conveyorhas traveled around. When applied to a machine in which the material passes continuously in a stream and the stream is weighed, as hereinbeforendogcribed, the metering rod may be operatively engaged f' l means for said feeding means governed by the the hand 208 by suitable or calibrating device may indicate the total amount of material passing through the machine `in a given time, since the automatic feed gate adjusting means provided by the present invention will hold the scale beam in balance so that 5 the weight of the stream for a unit of length will be maintained constant, and by driving the weigh conveyor at a constant speed, a given amount of material will pass through the machine in a given time and will be indicated by the metering device. 10 The metering or calibrating device may be mounted and supported directly on the frame 52 carrying the weigh conveyor, as by a supporting bracket 2|4 fixed to said frame and supporting the metering device'and its gearing, orthe dial 15 and the indicating hands associated therewith4 may be located at a distant or other point and driven by a flexible drive from the gearing driven by the belt of the weigh conveyor.l

- 'Ihe automatic regulating means provided by 2O the present invention compensates for variationsin the weight of the stream of material, due to variations in specific gravity, dampness resulting from atmospheric conditions or other causes,

as the material passes through the machine, thus 25 obviating the necessity of manual adjustment by an attendant.

The synchronizer forming part of the regulating means insures close and accurate regulation and avoids hunting" or` wandering, since the 30 adjusting means is rendered operative periodically or at such intervals that the weighing of the material occurs after each load or portion of the stream, following a regulating action thereon, has reached the weighing conveyor, so that the 355 weighing of such load or portion of the stream will determine whether any further regulation ofthe material is necessary to bring the loads or the stream of material to the predetermined desired weight.

I claim as my inventiom- 1. In a weighing machine having a travelling weigh conveyor and means for feeding material thereto, means governed by the weight of material on the weigh conveyor and operative at pe- 4; riods in definite relation with the travel of the weigh conveyor through successive distances, each of the same certain length, to control the rate of feed of material to the weigh conveyor.

2. Ina weighing machine having a travelling 5;, weigh conveyor having weighing means responsive to the Weight of material thereon, and feeding means for said conveyor adjustable to feed material thereto at different rates, controlling weight of material on the weigh conveyor and having means for rendering it operative periodically in definite relation with the travel of the weigh conveyor through successive distances each of the same certainlength and which de- @c termine definite'weighing periods.

3. In a weighing machine having a feed conveyor, and a cooperative weigh conveyor to receive material therefrom and having means for weighing the material thereon, means respon- 65 sive to the weightof material on the weigh conveyor and synchronized to operate intermittently in accordance with the advance of the weigh conveyor through successive distances, each of the same certain length, for automatically regu- 7c lating the feed of material to the rate of feed conveyor.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a feed conveyor having means adjustable to variably supply material thereto, a 75 and means for feeding material thereto,

continuously travelling weigh conveyor to receive and weigh material from the feed conveyor, regulating means responsive to weight of material.

on theweigh .conveyor for adjusting the rate of feed of material by the supply means, and means combination of a feed conveyor having'means,

adjustable ,to variably supply material thereto, a continuously travelling and weigh material from the'feed conveyor, regulating means rresponsiveto weight of materialv on the weigh conveyor for adjusting the rate of feed of material by the supply means, and means coordinated to the travel of the Weigh conveyor and operative periodically at definite equal intervals in the travel thereof to cause adjustmentoperation of the regulating means by increments.

6. In a weighing machine having a weigh conveyor having means for weighing material thereon and means for feeding material thereto, electric switch means responsive to said weighing means, means controlled by said switch means for increasing or decreasing the rate of feed of material 4to the` weigh` conveyor, and means for rendering said switch means operative periodically in accordance with the advance of the weigh conveyor through successive distances each of the same lengthand which determine the Weighing periods. i

'7. In a weighing machine having a travelling weigh conveyor for weighing material thereon switch means responsive to Weight of material on said conveyor, means controlled by the switch means for varying the rate of feed of material to the Weigh conveyor, and means synchronized to operate at definite equal intervals in the travel of the weight conveyor which determine weighing periods, for rendering said switch means opera-` tive periodically.

8. In a weighing machine having a travelling feed conveyor, a feed gate adjustable to vary the depth of material supplied thereto, a travelling weigh conveyor arranged to receive material from the feed conveyor and having means for weighing material thereon, a reversely-operative device for adjusting the feed gate, controlling means for said device governed by the weighing means, and means for rendering said controlling means operative periodically in definite relation with each same definite length of travel of the weigh conveyor.

9. In a weighing' machine having a travelling feed conveyor, a feed gate adjustable to vary the depth of material supplied thereto, a travelling weigh conveyor arranged to receive material from the feed conveyor and having means for weighing material thereon, a reversely-operative electrically operative device for adjusting the feedV gate, electric switch means for said device governed by the weighing means, and a synchronizing electric switch controlling said switch means and operative at intervals in the travel of the weigh conveyor.

10. A weighing machine according to claim 8, wherein said reversely-operative device comprises alternately operative solenoids and pawls and cooperative toothed wheels operative by the respective solenoids and connected to the feed gate for respectively moving it in one or the other direction.

11.. In a weighing machine having a feed conweigh conveyor to receivey veyor, a feed gate adjustable to control the supply of material thereto, a weigh conveyor arranged I to receive -material from/che feed conveyor and weigh it, and means for driving the feed conveyor intermittently to measure the material into loadsl and for driving the weigh conveyor to advance and discharge the loads, means responsive to the weight of a load on the weigh conveyor for adjusting the feed gate, and means synchronized with the weighing of successive loads on the w'eigh conveyor for rendering said gate adjusting means operative periodically.

l2. In a weighing machine having a travelling weigh conveyor having weighing means for weighing material thereon, and feed means adjustable to supply material thereto at di'erent rate. to form separate loads, adjusting means for sain feed means governed by said weighing means, and controlling means for said vadjusting means synchronized with advances of the weigh conveyor, each through -the same definite distance, and which determine the periods for weighing the loads by the weighing means.

13. In a weighing machine having a feed conveyor, material thereto, means for intermittently advancing the feed conveyor to measure the material into loads, a weigh conveyor arranged to receive the loads of material successively from the feed conveyor and having weighing means for weighing such loads, means responsive to said weighing means for adjusting said feed means, and means synchronized with the weighing of the loads by said weighing means for rendering said adjusting means operative synchronously therewith.

14. In a weighing machine having a feed conveyor, feed means adjustable to variably supply material thereto; a weigh conveyor arranged to receive material from the feed conveyor and having weighing means for weighing material thereon, and means for advancing said conveyors continuously to advance the material continuously in a stream, adjusting means for said feed means governed by said weighing means for varying the size of the stream of material, and means operative periodically during the advance of the weigh conveyor for rendering said adjusting means operative periodically.

15. In a weighing machine, the combination of a feed conveyor, a weigh conveyor, separate driving members operative respectively to advance the feed conveyor intermittently at different speeds to measure loads'of different volumes and discharge them to the weigh conveyor, a counter, and actuating members for the counter having means for operatively connecting them individually to the respective driving members for the feed conveyor.

16. In a weighing machine having a travelling conveyor, means adjustable to vary the rate of feed of material thereto,` means for weighing material on said conveyor, electrically-controlled means for adjusting said means which varies the rate of feed of material to said conveyor, and governing means for said electrically-controlled means embodying electric switch means con' feed means adjustable to variably supplyy 4cally connected to said 4material on said conveyor means for adjusting said means which varies the rate of feed of material to said conveyor, and governing means for said electrically-controlled means embodying electric switch means part oi which is controlled'by the weight of material on said conveyor and another part of which is controlled by the travel of said conveyor through a predetermined distance, and means connecting saidparts of the switch means in series for interdependent control of said electrically-controlled means.

18. In a weighing machine having a travelling conveyor, means adjustable to vary the rate of feed of material thereto, means forweighing material on said conveyor, electrically-controlled means for adjusting said means which varies the rate of feed of material to said conveyor, and governing means for said electrically-controlled means embodying electric switch means part of which is controlled in response to the weight of and another part of which is connected to said conveyor to. operate in coordination with successive distances of travelthereof.

19. In a weighing machine having a travelling conveyor, means adjustable to vary the rate of feed of material thereto, means for weighing material on said conveyor, electrically-controlled means for adjusting said means which varies the rate of feed of material to said conveyor, and governing means for said electrically-controlled means embodying electric switch means electrielectrically-controlled means, said switch means including contact elements having means for closing them in response to an underweight or overweight of material on said conveyorand other contact elements having means for closing them in response to the travel of said conveyor through afpredetermined distance.

20. In a weighing machine having a travelling conveyor provided with weighing means for weighing material'thereon, means for supplying material to said conveyor and adjustable to vary the rate of supply. electrically-controlled means for adjusting said supply means to increase or decrease the rate of supply of the material to said conveyor, and governing means for said electrically-controlled means embodying a'pair of switch elements which are rendered active in response respectively to underweight or overweight of material on said conveyor but both of which are inactive in response to a predetermined weight of material on said conveyor, and a switch element connected to said conveyor to be operated periodically in coordination with predetermined distances of advance thereof to render one or the other of said pair of switch elements operative at corresponding periods.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a. feed conveyor, a cooperative weigh conveyor to receive and weigh loads of material therefrom, means for advancing the feed volume varying means.

the class described, the conveyor, a cooperative 22. In a machine of combination of a. feed .'weigh conveyor to receive and weigh loads of material therefrom, means for advancing the feed conveyor a definite distance periodically independently of the weighing operation of the weigh conveyor to measure volumetrically predetermined loads of material and deposit them on the weigh conveyor for weighing, means for varying the volume of the loads measured by the feed conveyor, and means governed by the weight of a load of material on` the weigh conveyor and s having means for rendering it operative synchronously with the weighing of the loads of material by the weigh conveyor for adjusting said load varying means. A

STANLEY G. MURRAY. 

